The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD)’ s 2010 version of the Global Water Tool (GWT) is now available for public use.

The tool includes new and updated data and improved functionalities – making it more meaningful and easier to use. “The Global Water Tool is the first step for any company to make water-informed decisions. First launched in 2007, it is now being used by over 300 corporations worldwide.

Every situation is different

Companies need water for operations, employees and supply chain, as well as customers. In order to manage current and future risks related to water, companies should understand their water needs in relation to local conditions. These include water availability (current and projected), water quality, water ‘stress’ (relating to people, environment and agriculture), access to safe drinking water sources and sanitation, as well as population and industrial growth.


The Global Water Tool aims to help corporations and organizations map their water use and assess risks across their global operations and supply chains. It can be used in a variety of ways, to compare sites with key external water-related data, to create indicators, inventories, risk and performance metrics, and do geographic mapping. Ultimately, it can lead to effective risk management and improved communications with internal and external stakeholders.


The Global Water Tool used across regions and sectors


Companies have used the tool in different ways. For example, The Dow Chemical Company used the tool to show that nearly 40% of its sites around the world will experience some degree of freshwater stress by 2025, and it also helped inform the development of sustainable water management strategies for these sites.


Lafarge used the GWT at both corporate and site levels, and found it particularly powerful for raising awareness. Caterpillar customized the GWT to make its own set of water metrics combining external information and water use. Sites that are ranked as medium and high-risk are then analyzed further.


PepsiCo have inputted data for more than 600 of its site into the GWT, which provided compelling visuals through maps and Google Earth. The company uses the GWT with local employees, communities, suppliers and technical experts to reduce their water impact.


Importantly, the GWT fits well with other water tools, for example both Dow and Caterpillar combined the use of the GWT with the Global Environmental Management Initiative’s ‘Collecting the Drops: A Water Sustainability Planner,’ while Lafarge and PepsiCo linked it to their testing of the Water Footprint Network’s method.